Let's be honest, that drawer full of tangled cables is more than just a mess. It’s a physical reminder of the digital chaos that quietly adds stress to our lives.
I know that feeling of chaos all too well. For a long time, my life was a mess. I was drowning in bad habits—gaming, overeating, laziness—and my surroundings reflected my inner state. Clutter was everywhere, especially when it came to electronics. Finding the right charger felt like a treasure hunt with no map. It was just one more small frustration in a life full of big ones.
When I started my journey to reclaim my life, losing over 110 pounds and building a new routine, I realized something important. The order I was creating inside needed to be reflected on the outside. Organizing my physical space, including my electronics, wasn't just about being tidy. It was about creating an environment of peace and intention. It was about removing the small daily annoyances so I could focus on what truly mattered.
If you’re tired of the cable nests and mystery gadgets, I want to share what worked for me. Here are 10 simple hacks to get your electronics in order, once and for all.
Create a Charging Hub
Instead of having chargers plugged into every available outlet in your house, designate one spot as the official charging station. This could be a small table in the living room, a shelf in your office, or a counter in the kitchen. Use a power strip or a multi-port USB charging dock to create a central hub where everyone in the family can power up their devices. No more frantic searching for a free outlet or a missing phone charger. Everything has its place.
Tame the Cable Monster
For all the cables behind your TV or computer, it’s time to tame the beast. Simple tools can make a huge difference. Velcro ties or zip ties are great for bundling related cords together. For a cleaner look, you can use a cable sleeve or box to hide the entire bundle. It takes about 15 minutes, but the visual peace it creates is worth it. You look at the space and your mind just feels calmer.
Give Every Cable a Name
You know that box of random cables we all have? The one where every cord looks the same? End the mystery with a simple label maker. If you don’t have one, a piece of masking tape and a pen work just as well. Label both ends of the cord with the name of the device it belongs to (e.g., “Camera,” “Old Kindle”). The next time you need a specific charger, you’ll find it in seconds, not minutes.
The Great Electronics Purge
This was a big one for me. Getting rid of things I no longer needed was a powerful act. Go through all your old electronics and ask yourself one question: “Have I used this in the last year?” Be honest. That old flip phone, the digital camera from 2008, the GPS you haven’t touched since your phone got maps—it’s time for them to go. Getting rid of that old gear felt a lot like letting go of a bad habit. It was a small act of freedom that cleared space for what’s actually useful in my life today. You can sell them, donate them, or find a proper e-waste recycling center.
Think Vertically
Don’t forget about your wall space. A simple pegboard with hooks and small baskets is an amazing way to organize headphones, cables, controllers, and other small electronic accessories. It gets things off your desk and out of your drawers, and you can see everything at a glance. It's functional and can even look pretty cool.
Use What You Already Have
You don’t need to buy expensive organizers. Look around your home for containers you can repurpose.
- Empty toilet paper rolls: Perfect for holding single, rolled-up cables in a drawer.
- Old eyeglass cases: Great for storing earbuds or small charging cables in your bag.
- Shoe boxes: Decorate them with some nice paper and use them to store larger items like old hard drives or gaming controllers.
Build a "Go-Bag" for Your Tech
If you travel or work from different locations, create a dedicated tech "go-bag." This is a small pouch or bag that holds all your essential on-the-go electronics: your laptop charger, phone cable, a portable power bank, and any necessary adapters. Keep it packed and ready. When it’s time to leave, you just grab the bag, knowing everything you need is already inside.
Go Digital with Documents
Piles of paper manuals and warranty cards create a lot of clutter. For most of your electronics, you can find the manual online with a quick search. Download a PDF version and save it to a dedicated folder in the cloud or on your computer. For warranties and receipts, just snap a picture with your phone and save it in the same folder. Now all that information is searchable and takes up zero physical space.
Apply the "One In, One Out" Rule
This is a simple rule to prevent clutter from building up again. Every time you buy a new electronic device, you must get rid of the old one it’s replacing. New phone? Sell or recycle the old one. New TV? The old one has to go. This keeps your inventory of gadgets from slowly taking over your home.
Clean Up Your Digital Desktop
Organization isn't just about physical stuff. A cluttered computer desktop can be just as stressful as a messy room. Take 10 minutes to organize your digital files. Create folders for different categories like “Work,” “Personal,” and “Photos.” Delete old files and shortcuts you no longer need. A clean desktop provides a clean slate for your mind when you sit down to work. It’s a small change that helps me focus during my short bursts of deep work.
Getting organized isn’t about achieving some perfect, magazine-worthy home. It’s about creating a space that serves you instead of stresses you. It’s about stewardship—taking care of what we have and making our homes a place of order and peace. For me, it was a crucial part of building a better, more intentional life.
So, where will you start? You don’t have to do it all at once. Just pick one thing.
What’s the one small step you can take today to bring a little more order to your world?
